Gall was born in South Dakota in 1840. A member of the Hunkpapa Sioux tribe he developed a reputation as a successful war leader and played a significant role in the defeat of General George A. Custer at the Little Bighorn. He also led the warriors against Major Marcus Reno and his men.

The U.S. army now responded by increasing the number of the soldiers in the area. As a result leaders of the attack such as Gall and Sitting Bull fled to Canada, whereas Crazy Horse and his followers surrendered to General George Crook at the Red Cloud Agency in Nebraska.

On 1st January, 1881, Gall surrendered to Major Guido Ilges in Montana. He moved to the Standing Rock Reservation in Dakota and became a farmer. He also supported the government policy of educating Sioux children.

Gall died at Oak Creek, South Dakota, on 5th December, 1894.